Drilling apparatus



J. S. MITCHELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 17, 1925 Dec. 9, 1930.

[mwen/207:' CIF/036,227 63715207362 Z VV L .l null /4 A a Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH S. AMITCHELL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 'ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS DRILLING APPARATUS application mea october 17, 1925. serial no. 63,147.

This invention relates to drilling apparatus and more particularly to a rotary drilling apparatus of the oil or gas well type.

A rotary drilling apparatus is particularly adapted to use in drilling subterraneous formations of relatively soft character. The cutting tool or bit usually is fed to the work by gravity. However, when the weight of the rod line is excessive a usual hoisting mechanism is utilized to relieve a portion of the weight from the cutting bit, the hoisting y cable being adapted for connection to a usual Water swivel carried at the upper end of a usual fluted grief stem. The cutting tool and rod line are adapted to be rotated by what is commonly called a rotary machine or revolving table which is placed on suitable f supports on the ground or on the derrick floor directly over the hole. Furthermore, the grief stem to which the rod line is connected passes through a suitable central openingin the rotary table and the latter is adapted to be driven from a usual driving engine, the latter also usually being utilized for driving the hoisting mechanism.

Under certain conditions, for instance if the subterraneous formations encountered by the cutting bit are of relatively hard material or if a core of the bedding strata is desired to be obtained, it has been found highly desirable'to remove the usual rotary cutting`bit from the rod line and to substitute therefor a core barrel, the latter preferably being provided'with a usual rotary diamond cutting bit. However, when a diamond cutting bit is utilized it has been found impractical to feed i the bit by means of the usual rotary gravity feed, the diamonds chipping or breaking under the excessive strains and shocks encountered. 1

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved meansfor feeding and controlling the cutting bit and rod line of a rotary oil or gas well drilling apparatus whereby the feed may be perfectly regulated. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved, inexpensive, simple, and thoroughly reliable hydraulic feeding means for a rotary drill. Still another object of this `invention is to provide an improved auxiliary hydraulic feeding means for a rotary drill which acts directly on the fast line of the usual hoist-ing tackle. These and other objects of my invention will, however, subsequently more fully appear.

This invention in one of its aspects comprises an improved feeding and controlling mechanism for the rotary drill rods when a diamond cutting bit is utilized and such means preferably acts directly on the fast line of the hoisting cable which extends between the usual hoist-ing drum and the upper end of therod line. Preferably, this feeding and controlling means comprises a hydraulic hoisting and lowering device, in this instance a hydraulic cylinder suitably rigidly mounted on the derrick floor or ack posts of the derrick. This 'cylinder has a piston therein which may carry a cable guiding sheave which preferably acts directly on the fast line7 of the hoisting cable as will hereinafter more fully appear, the main purpose of this feeding and controllin device being to relieve excessive weight rom the cutting bit and to provide an improved control therefor.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

AF ig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the rotary equipment is used in oil or gas well drilling when a rotary diamond bit is employed, the auxiliary feeding device being shown in a plurality of positions.

Fig. 2 isla central longitudinal sectional view through the auxiliary hydraulic feedin and controlling device.

As shown in the drawings 1 indicates as an entiretythe well derrick which may of course be of any suitable kind or construcrevolving table 3 is adapted to be driven from the engine by means of a suitable chain and sprocket connection 7 in a well known manner. Extending through the revolving table 3 of the rotary machine is the usual squared or lluted drill or grief stem 8 which has attached thereto in any suitable manner at its upper end a usual water swivel 9 lhaving a pivoted lifting bail 10. This drill stem 8 is adapted to be suitably attached by means of a tool oint 11 to a string of hollow drill pipes or rods 12. It will also benoted that carried on the derrick floor is a usual fluid pump 13 which is adapted to pump lluid under pressure to the cutting bit through hose connections 14 and 15, the latter being suitably attached to the water swivel 9. As illustrated, the cable 6 passes from the hoisting drum 5 around the bottom of a guide sheave 16 jourualed within brackets v17 carried by the foundation of the well derrick. rhe fast line of this cable extends from the sheave 16 upwardly around a usual crown block 18 and then downwardly in a multi-strand connection around a pulley block 19, the latter carrying the usual hoisting hook 20. The portion of the hoisting cable on which the feeding 'device acts is called the fast line as that part of the cable moves faster than the portion which is threaded through pulley blocks, there being a substantial speed reduction between the fast line and a hoisting hook 20. It will herein be noted that the rotary drilling apparatus shown is merely for purposes of illustration and that any desired hoisting and driving arrangement may be utilized in place of that shown.

*In my improved construction it will herein be observed that the usual rotary cutting #bit has been removed from the rod line 12 and a core barrel 21 substituted therefor, the core barrel carrying at its lower end a usual cutting bit 22 herein of the Well known diamond rotary type. To obtain-a perfect regulation of the feed of the diamond bit 22 I have combined with the rotary rig in a novel manner a hydraulicfeeding and controlling device generally designated 23 `which herein comprises a substantially horizontal cylinder 24 which may be of any desired size and having secured thereto at its opposite ends suitable cylinder heads 25 and 26, respectively. As shown, the cylinder, 24 has formed thereon laterally projecting supports 27 which are suitably bolted as at 28 to a transversely disposed supporting member 29 carried by upright members supported by the derrick floor, thus forming arigid and stable support for the feeding device. As illustrated, disposed Within the cylinder 24 is a piston 30 having secured thereto a piston rod 31 which passes from the front of the cylinder through a suitable stulling box 32. In accordance with this invention the piston rod 31 has secured thereto in a suitable manner at its forward end a sheave or pulley '33 which is adpated to engage the fast linen ofthe usualhoisting tackle. Suitably connected to the fluid pump 13 by means of the pipe connection. 14 is a pipe connection34 which is adapted'to conduct through branch connections 35 and 36 fluid under ressure1 herein water, to the opposite ends of) the cylinder 24 underthe control of suitably .manually operable valves 37 and 38. .Disposed on the opposite side of the cylinder 24 and controlled by valves 39 and 40 is a fluid by-pass connection 41 while` branching therefrom under the control of a manually operable valve 42 is a drain pipe 43.

In the operation of my improved hydraulic feeding and controlling device it will herein be noted that when it is desired to use a`core barrel and diamond bit in the place of the usual rotary cutting tool, the fast line of the.

hoisting cable 6 is passed around the guide sheave 33 and the hoisting hook v20 is connected to the lifting bail 10 of the water swivel 9. The core barrel 21 is then lowered into the hole under control of the usual hoisting drum 5. When the diamond bit 22 assumes a position adjacent the bottom of the hole, water under ressure is forced from the pump 13 througli the pipe connections 14 and 34 and by-passes 35 and 36 under the control of the `valves 37 and 38, the feed piston and guide sheave 33 being in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1. As the cutting bit deepens the hole fluid is by-pa'ssed, through the connection 41 and under the control of the valves 39 and 40, from the forward end of the cylinder 24 to' the rear end of the cylinder and the diamond bit is gradually fed toward the -work, the hydraulic feed relieving excessive A weight from the bit. It will herein be noted that there is a substantial speed reduction between the fast line of the hoisting mechanismand the rod line due to the pulley blocks and multi-strand connection, for instance, if the feed piston has a travel of several feet, the rod line Will be fed only a few inches. This feeding movement is continued until the fast line of the cable and the pulley 33 assume the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. To obtain further feed the cable is slackened up from the drum 5 and the piston 30 reversed in the cylinder until it again assumes the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 1, the above operations being repeated until a hole of the desired depth is obtained. As the bit penetrates the subterraneous formations desired control of the grief stem is obtained by suitable adjustment of the valves 37, 38, 39, and 40. When it is desired to drain the cylinder 24 the valves 37 and 38 are closed and the valves 39, 40 and 42 are opened and the water is then allowed to flow from the cylinder through the drain pipe 43.

', As a result of my improved hydraulic feeding and controlling device the Vusual rotary oil or gas well drilling apparatus is enabled to be utilized with a core barrel and diamond cutting bit. It will further be noted that improved/hydraulic feeding means is provided which acts directly on the fast line of the hoisting cable and by which all necessity of fastenin and loosening rope clamps-or the like is e iminated. It will further be noted that improved hydraulic feeding means is provided for a rotary drilling rig which acts directly on the fast line of the usual hoisting cable whereby the hoist can be operated instantly without disconnecting the hydraulic therefrom. These 'and other advantages of my invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application speciicaL ly described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rotary oil or gas well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary table, rod line, and hoistin mechanism including a hoisting drum an a hoisting cable supporting the rod line, of means for feeding and controlling the rod line including an auxiliary feeding device having means engaging the hoisting cable intermediate the ends thereof, the connection between the hoisting drum and rod line on which the feeding device acts being deflected upon initial feeding of said device and being slackened during feeding until it assumes a straight line when the limit of feed of said device has been reached, said connection being so arranged that a predetermined feeding movement of the feeding device effects a substantially reduced feeding movement of the rod line.

2. In a rotary oil or gas well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary table,

3. In a rotary oil or gas well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary tab e,

rod line, and hoisting mechanism including aA hoisting drum and a hoisting cable supporting the rod line, of means for feeding and controlling the rod line including an auxiliary feeding device having a sheave engaging the hoisting cable intermediate the ends thereof, the connection between the hoisting drum and rod line on which the feeding device acts being deflected upon initial feeding of said device and being slackened during feeding until it assumes a straight line when the limit of feed of said device has been reached, said connection being so arranged that a predetermined feeding movement of the feeding device effects a substantially reduced feeding movement of the rod line.

4. In a rotary oil or gas Well drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotary table, rod line, and hoisting mechanism including a hoisting drum and a hoisting cable supporting the rod line, of means for feeding and controlling the rod line including an auxiliary hydraulic feeding device includ# ing a feed cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein and a sheave carried by said piston and engaging the hoisting cable intermediate the ends thereof, the connection between the hoisting drum and rod line on which the feeding device acts being deflected upon initial feeding of said device and being slackened during feeding until it assumes a strai ht line when the limit of feed of said device as been reached, said connection being so arranged that a pre-determined feeding movement of the feeding device effects a substantially reduced feeding movement of the rod line.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH S. MITCHELL.

rod line, andhoisting mechanism including a hoisting drum and a hoisting cable supporting the rod line, of means for feeding and controlling the rod line including an auxiliary feeding device having mea-ns engaging the hoisting cable intermediate the ends thereof andrelative to which said hoisting' cable is movable during the feedin operation, the connection between the oisting drum and rod line on which the feeding de vice acts being defiected upon initial feeding of said device and being slackened during feeding until it assumes a straight line when the limit of feed of said device has been reached, said connection being so arranged that a predetermined feeding movement of the feedin device effects a substantially reduced fee ing movement of the rod line. 

